overdrive
noun
over·drive
ˈō-vər-ˌdrīv 
1
: an automotive transmission gear that transmits to the drive shaft a speed greater than engine speed
2
: a state of heightened activity
going into rhetorical overdrive
Examples of overdrive in a Sentence
He put the car into overdrive.
His acting career is in overdrive.
The reporters went into overdrive to finish their stories on time.
Recent Examples on the Web
Social media speculation went into overdrive.
—
Zack Sharf, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
The comment sent social media into overdrive as many debated whether there are still boundaries left in rap beef.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Flashbulbs went into overdrive as Charli XCX took her seat next to Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz and Rosé of K-pop group Blackpink, dressed in a skimpy négligée.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Speculation had gone into overdrive prior to the announcement, with experts wondering whether Masaryk may have conveyed a fateful warning before Europe's descent back into war.
—Jay Ganglani, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overdrive
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Zack Sharf, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
The comment sent social media into overdrive as many debated whether there are still boundaries left in rap beef.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Flashbulbs went into overdrive as Charli XCX took her seat next to Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz and Rosé of K-pop group Blackpink, dressed in a skimpy négligée.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Speculation had gone into overdrive prior to the announcement, with experts wondering whether Masaryk may have conveyed a fateful warning before Europe's descent back into war.
—Jay Ganglani, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overdrive
Cite this Entry
“Overdrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdrive. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overdrive
noun
over·drive
ˈō-vər-ˌdrīv
: a transmission gear in an automobile that allows the drive shaft to operate at a speed greater than that of the engine crankshaft
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